National Manufacturing Summit to be held in Coventry
The second annual National Manufacturing Summit says it will focus on sustainable manufacturing, as the UK works towards a net-zero economy.
Following COP26, the summit is an opportunity to look at emerging technologies and how to remain globally competitive.
Hosted by Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) on February 8th and 9th, the hybrid event will feature live, face-to-face presentations as well as an interactive virtual audience.
Recently, CEO of MTC Dr Clive Hickman told The Business Desk how he’s advocating for better investment from the government into the West Midlands. He said the region produces the most return on public sector spending, yet receives the least investment.
Regarding the summit, Dr Hickman said: “The event will acknowledge our national significance and frame our shared priorities. The agenda will be broad, engaging and interactive covering a wide range of manufacturing issues, but the over-arching theme will be sustainable manufacturing and the drive for a net-zero carbon economy.
“We will celebrate the resilience of UK manufacturing as well as its ingenuity and diversity and
demonstrate how those qualities combined with emerging technologies can enable change for a sustainable future.”
Five key themes will be focused on, the principal one being sustainable net-zero manufacturing, supported by technology and innovation, supply chains, SMEs and finance.
Other sectors such as automotive will be discussed alongside newer sectors like space and medical technology.
The 2021 National Manufacturing Summit was a virtual event attended by more than 1,500 delegates who joined in discussions with industry leaders, experts, influencers, academics and politicians.
An advisory board has been set up to identify priorities for the summit and is made up of founder and chairman of Cobra Beers and University of Birmingham Chancellor Lord Bilimoria, the chair of Make UK Dame Judith Hackitt and MTC chief executive Dr Clive Hickman.
The MTC was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd.
